Clash

what a shame....
Islamist leader Burhan Hanif tells Aussie Muslims to 'shun democracy' | News.com.au

LEADERS of the global Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir have called on Australian Muslims to spurn secular democracy and Western notions of moderate Islam and join the struggle for a transnational Islamic state.

British Hizb ut-Tahrir leader Burhan Hanif told participants at a conference in western Sydney yesterday that democracy is "haram" (forbidden) for Muslims, whose political engagement should be be based purely on Islamic law.

"We must adhere to Islam and Islam alone," Mr Hanif told about 500 participants attending the convention in Lidcombe.

"We should not be conned or succumb to the disingenuous and flawed narrative that the only way to engage politically is through the secular democratic process. It is prohibited and haram."

He said democracy was incompatible with Islam because the Koran insisted Allah was the sole lawmaker, and Muslim political involvement could not be based on "secular and erroneous concepts such as democracy and freedom".

His view was echoed by an Australian HT official, Wassim Dourehi, who told the conference Muslims should not support "any kafir (non-believer) political party", because humans have no right to make laws.

Mr Dourehi also urged Muslims to spurn the concept of moderate Islam promoted by governments in the West, including in "this godforsaken country" of Australia.

"We need to reject this new secular version of Islam," he said. "It is a perverted concoction of Western governments.

"It is a perversion that seeks to wipe away the political aspects of Islam and localise our concerns. We must reject it and challenge the proponents of this aberration of Islam."

The conference, which followed the theme The struggle for Islam in the West' was the first major event held by the Australian branch of HT since a seminar in 2007 which coincided with calls for the group to be banned.

HT is outlawed in much of the Middle East but operates legally in more than 40 countries, campaigning for the establishment of a caliphate or Islamic state.

HT's platform rejects the use of violence in its quest for an Islamic state, but supports the military destruction of Israel.

But the group's presence sparked angry protests outside as members of the Australian Protectionist Party (APP) yelled anti-Islam chants.

The APP met in a small park to express their need to "protect" the Australian way of life.

Conflict between the APP and HT amounted to an exchange of words, anti-Islam chants and the occasional drive-by of young Muslim men yelling obscenities from their car at the APP protesters.

One passer-by, a young Muslim man, yelled at the APP group: "You people have absolutely no idea", sparking a fiery exchange of accusations and finger-pointing.

Nick Folkes, the Sydney organiser for the APP, believes that the HT should be banned in Australia and thinks that practising sharia law should be illegal in Australia.

"Sharia law is an archaic legal system that treats woman as second-class citizens," he said.

"We're not asking them to change their skin colour or religion. But if they come here, they must reject sharia law."

Additional reporting by Sallie Don.

Read more about Australian Muslims being told to shun secular democracy at The Australian.


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Gav of Sydney Posted at 2:30 PM July 05, 2010

@Alastair - actually, it CAN be claimed we are Christian based. Nothing wrong with that, it has nothing to do with whether there is a state religion or not. Our way of life was founded on traditional European ideals, specifically English, for better or worse. Fundamentally, Europe is a Christian continent, though there are naturally exceptions to that. But for the large part, Australia's belief system is founded on the Holy Trinity which intergral to most European religions. It is to our betterment however that we arent exclusive to one religion specifically, and are tolerant of differences in others. But allowing their voices to be heard does not change the heritage of our founders being British and European. People with an agenda twist this, ignore this, or straight out use it to their advantage, for no good cause. As plenty of Muslim's here have pointed out, Burhan Hanif is no more their voice than the APP is for Australia's Christian element.

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James Posted at 2:22 PM July 05, 2010

*rabble rabble rabble* Muslims are bad *rabble rabble rabble* As someone mentioned before this only attracted a handful of people. This story does nothing but fuel the fire of West vs Muslims. To be honest it would have been better if we didnt even give these people a news story to begin with.

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shahin P of melbourne Posted at 2:19 PM July 05, 2010

i as a muslim born, and fled islamic fundamentalist state, Iran totally believe that who is not abiding by Australian law, should be sent out to their own country ! that is including ladies with hejab! i find it disturbing that if a western lady goes to islamic state should abide by their islamic law (totally made up -not written in quran) and wear hijab!!! so what i am trying to say, fundamental muslims dont belong here and more than welcome to leave us alone! i am a very spiritual person and am finding all these ignitions from the group very spiteful ! Australia has opened up its arms to welcome us from all walks of life by embracing us. we all are trying to live together and learn about each other . i have Israeli jewish friends and muslims friends and i love them all dearly! most of them share my view! i am totally disturbed by all these cross fires by fundamentalists . this country is secular society and lets keep it that way!